Can You Swim?

If you're going to attempt to scam money from me, you'd better come up with a stronger ploy than pretending to have no funds.

I was minding my own business at a cash deposit machine in the corner of a bank on the Hong Kong side when a fellow strolled past long queues of folks at the ATMs and sidled next to me with his wallet in his hands. Prying it apart with his fingers to display its desolate wastelands, he said, "Excuse me, do you have money you can give to me? I need to go to the Kowloon side."

Please. Do I look like a soft touch?

I said nothing and turned back to my transaction. Lest you think I'm cold, that's one of the oldest cons in the book. For a moment I was tempted to give the man HK$2.20 (about 28 cents US) and directions to the Star Ferry pier (at least a 15-minute walk from the bank) just to see whether he'd sneer, but I didn't have time to mess with him.

Besides, just a few feet outside on the sidewalk sat a massively disfigured burn victim begging for change.

If anyone were to get a donation, it would be the guy who honestly needed it.

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